UK is putting on hold further expansion of electrification due to cost over runs and lack of supplies. Also note that article states system is at capacity much of day. That may be the reason that supplies are in short supply ?
http://www.railwaygazette.com/news.html
Even Cuba is getting into the act of improviing RRs. They are closing Havana station for reconstruction. Article also lists several route rojects to decrease travel time. Maybe this is in anticipation of thawed cuba - US relations ?
http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/central-south-america/cuba-begins-havana-station-reconstruction.html?channel=536
What is probably to become a regular happening China just opened another ( 300 KPH ) HSR rail line. Article notes that 86% of route is in tunnels or on bridges.
http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/asia/china-opens-hefei-fuzhou-high-speed-line.html?channel=540
blue streak 1Maybe this is in anticipation of thawed cuba - US relations ?
Probably so. The embassies are scheduled to open soon.
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
blue streak 1Article notes that 86% of route is in tunnels or on bridges.
Not surprising to me. What might be highly interesting: look at the topo and compare it with either the 'revised' White Train route or the parts of the 'second spine' route in New England. Then see if the '86%' of tunnels and bridges have length and heights respectively that are comparable to what the American routes would require...
505 miles in rugged terrain, built in 5 years. The trains take under 4 hours. I believe the terrain north of Fuzhou is more rugged than the New England routes would be, for the most part. The highest mountain is over 7,000 feet high. Fujian province is said to be "Eight parts mountain, one part water, and one part farmland."
World HSR summary by railway gazette. Of course China leads. But interesting who USA lags behind.
http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/world-speed-survey-2015-china-remains-the-pacesetter.html
Why is that surprising? We lag behind many countries on HSR.
HSR line Hong Kong - mainland overbudget and delayed. Guess not all China projects get fast tracked/
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/1834045/high-speed-rail-link-mainland-china-too-idealistic-start-hong
A surprize China's population likes to tour country on HSR
http://www.ecns.cn/2015/07-08/172246.shtml
blue streak 1 A surprize China's population likes to tour country on HSR http://www.ecns.cn/2015/07-08/172246.shtml
Again, why is that surprising? The route serves several well-known tourist destinations, such as legendary mountains. And some of the tourists will be foreigners, including "overseas Chinese."
China starts testing another HSR line.
http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/high-speed/high-speed-testing-begins-in-chinas-far-north.html?channel=523
Why not buy HSR train sets in bulk ? Then just pawn off a few to offer to US. China putting out tender for 351 train sets.
http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/high-speed/china-issues-tender-for-351-high-speed-trains.html?channel=523
China is spending about 4 times what all US RRs including Amtrak this year.
http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/financial/china-invests-dolus-43bn-in-rail-in-first-half-of-2015.html?channel=522
blue streak 1 UK is putting on hold further expansion of electrification due to cost over runs and lack of supplies. Also note that article states system is at capacity much of day. That may be the reason that supplies are in short supply ? http://www.railwaygazette.com/news.html
Actually this is a little misleading. They are putting the projects up north on hold in order to concentrate on on electrifying the Great Western Main. This is required to make sure it's in place for the upcoming HST replacement trains.
Ah it seems that China wishes to keep its 1st place on HSR networks, both construction and operation. Anyway, also in Spain - they also want to keep their 2nd place in the 'HSR network contest' - two new streches of HSR are also being redied for opening, both in the North of the country. Both are sections of the North high speed Corridor.
The first of it links the present end of the line at Valladolid with Leon. As a cost saving measure, part of it was build in single track (but with space for a second track already built) and as on this phase ERTMS will not be installed, top speed will be limited to 200 Km/h (125 Mph) since the only cab signal system installed is the so called 'Asfa digital'. However, with ERTMS installed, and maybe a second main track in place, top speed may reach a maximum of 350 km/h. Here's some info (quite complete, it even mentions the maximum speeds of operation), in spanish only ; https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%ADnea_de_alta_velocidad_Valladolid-Palencia-Le%C3%B3n
A video of the tests depicting Adif Talgo test train (from the same family of the newest Cascades) ;
The Valladllid to Leon HSR section is expected to open in September.
The other HSR section wich will start to be tested soon is the Galicia branch, starting at Olmedo. On the 7th of august a section fo Oledmo to a point just north of Zamora will be opened for test runs with catenary already energized (electrified on 2X25 Kv)
A strange accident with a Spanish AVE train in France, and not the first time it happens. ee here ;http://www.trenvista.net/noticias/europa/francia/arde-un-ave-serie-100-en-lunel-francia/
Luckily only two passengers (?) went tothe hospital. I wonder why the lead car caught on fire?
schlimm Luckily only two passengers (?) went tothe hospital. I wonder why the lead car caught on fire?
For me it's even stranger. This kind of EMU is not different from other TGV type trains in use in France. It's basically equal to TGV-atlantique type Sets. Well, maybe a little different because these sets - numbered 017 to 024 - were originally broad gauge an dwre built to be used on the Express services between Barcelona, Valencia and Alicante, later being converted to standard gauge (when tthe international conection between Spain and France opened), in order to be used on international services: Originally thhesee setes wer also dual current, operating under 3 Kv dc and 25 Kv ac, being converted to operate under 1,5 Kv ac, in order to be 'coompatible' with the french electrification. Since its not the first time one of these power cars caughts fire, maybe the problem lies in the way the trains were converted to operate under 1,5 Kv, in wich current intensity is much higher tahn under 3 Kv. There are other 'tri-current' TGV type sets operating, notably between France and _Italy with the same voltage 'arrangement', so maybe these spanish trains were not properly converted, a strange situation, since it was done by its original maker, just a guess
Japan is getting plans started on final section of 5 HSR lines planned back in 1973. This leg to Osaka.
http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/high-speed/talks-begin-on-hokuriku-shinkansen-extension.html?channel=523
Only part passenger but Czech republic extending tenders for plans to convert all 3 Kv DC CAT mainly in the north to 25Kv 50Hz. Will then be all one system. Note connects to Slovika in north which is already planning to convert all 3Kv to 25 Kv 50 Hz.
http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/europe/czechs-develop-plans-to-eliminate-3kv-dc-electrification.html?channel=537
Very interesting concept. UK is reboring Farnworth tunnel using a TBM 9 meters ( ~ 30 feet ) in diameter. This is for adding double track 25 Kv 50 Hz CAT to line. Presently 2 tunnels but will just use this one rebored tunnel. Almost sound like double stack clearance ?
Guess that to keep the TBM going straight the tunnel was filled with foam concrete. Interesting concept. What is foam concrete ?
http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/uks-biggest-tbm-rebores-farnworth-tunnel.html
Foam concrete is injected with air to make it much lighter and easier to drill. I suspect they are filling the old tunnel with foam cement to keep it stable as they bore the new larger tunnel. A 30' diameter bore, once it is lined, does not seem big enough for electrified double track.
Isreal opening another 70 Km line. Freight for a month to settle the track then up to 25 trains a day each way. Dave Klepper do you have access to a rail map there? Would be interesting as the towns are not familar.
http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/middle-east/israel-completes-ashkelon-beer-sheva-line.html?channel=539
Lotschberg base tunnel in Switzerland will be getting its second track finished. Tunnel is in three parts one section has only one track and will get second track,. Another section will get a new tunnel bored. third section is already 2 Main track.
http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/europe/second-track-to-be-installed-in-lotschberg-base-tunnel.html?channel=537
China opens 281 Km HSR northernmost rail line
http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/high-speed/china-opens-northernmost-high-speed-rail-line.html?channel=523
Askelion is south of Tel Aviv and has had passenger service to Tel Aviv, often running through north to Haifa and Naharia for many years. Beir Sheva is south and east of Tel Aviv, on the rail line to Demona, which is the probably point for continuation south to Elat. It also had through service to Tel Aviv and north to Haifa, often to Naharia. The old line to Jerusalem branches off the Beir Sheva line at Naan Junction, south of Ramla, and goes east and a bit north to Beit Shemesh, then north to Jerusalem.
This new line is primarily an east-west line, will serve to allow industrial and mining traffic from Demona and other areas south and east of Beir Sheva to go directly to Ashdod and Ashkolon Ports, which together are now as important as Haifa, without first going north to Lod and then south.
Much of the line is in a zone that was impacted by rocket fire leading up to the hostilities with Hamas and during those hostilities. I suspect there is a real truce.
China to build another HSR line parallel to existing HSR line but faster.
http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/high-speed/china-to-build-second-fuzhou-zhangzhou-line.html?channel=523
Definately, this year TGVs and affiliated trains seem to be getting literally on fire. This time it was not a spanish AVE on french metals, bta TGV duplex on its own 'metals', in the Paris to Marseille HSL (wich off course caused a lot of gridlock, since there's a train passing every 5 minutes or so). And this time the fire was under 25 Kv, AC cat (it seems to be in the main transfrmer of the power car, judging by the location). Here's a link from a french tv station
http://www.francetvinfo.fr/economie/transports/incendie-d-un-tgv-800-passagers-evacues_1052297.html
Youtube link
And one more link, from the french version of The Huffington Post ;
http://www.huffingtonpost.fr/2015/08/21/incendie-tgv-perturbe-trafic-trains-paris-marseille_n_8021794.html
Mario_v Definately, this year TGVs and affiliated trains seem to be getting literally on fire. This time it was not a spanish AVE on french metals, bta TGV duplex on its own 'metals', in the Paris to Marseille HSL (wich off course caused a lot of gridlock, since there's a train passing every 5 minutes or so). And this time the fire was under 25 Kv, AC cat (it seems to be in the main transfrmer of the power car, judging by the location). Here's a link from a french tv station http://www.francetvinfo.fr/economie/transports/incendie-d-un-tgv-800-passagers-evacues_1052297.html Youtube link And one more link, from the french version of The Huffington Post ; http://www.huffingtonpost.fr/2015/08/21/incendie-tgv-perturbe-trafic-trains-paris-marseille_n_8021794.html
Obviously, a Hot Train!
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Another China HSR opening this one just over the Yula river to north Korea. Time for Trains mag to publish a map of lines in operation and under construction.
http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/high-speed/single-view/view/high-speed-links-to-the-northeast-completed.html
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